Apple expanding operations in Europe, will create 500 jobs in Cork, Ireland
The additional employees will work at a new office block that Apple plans to build in the next 18 months to accommodate the staff, the Irish Times reported on Friday. Apple currently employs about 2,800 people total at its European headquarters in Cork.
"Apple has been in Cork for over 30 years, and we are thrilled to be expanding our presence there," an Apple spokesman said. "Our plans will add over 500 new jobs to support our growing business across Europe."
Apple's operations in Cork oversee the company's supply chain throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company also assembles Mac Pro desktops at the location.
Apple has had operations in Cork's Holyhill since 1980. It was the company's first base established outside of the U.S.
"The announcement that Apple, one of the world's leading companies, is expanding its operations in Ireland and creating 500 new jobs is a huge boost for the country," said Richard Bruton, the country's job minister. "It is a great testament to the company's workforce, a great vote of confidence in the future of our economy, and it shows what is possible fore Ireland at the heart of a stable Europe."
The iPhone maker's major presence in Cork was highlighted earlier this month because of its low tax rate of 12.5 percent. Media in the U.K. showed interest in Apple's tax rate because Amazon is currently under investigation from the HM Revenue and Customs for not paying corporation tax.
The Cork operation was also in the news this week as members of the environmental group Greenpeace staged a demonstration at Apple's European headquarters. Signs spelling out reading "clean our cloud" were placed on the glass building, as the organization has protested Apple's use of coal-powered electricity for its iCloud service.
8 Comments
I was under the impression Apple was building a solar panel field in north carolina... So why is Greenpeace saying Apple is not green for icloud?
That should be Bruton, not Burton.
Greenpeace should check their facts. Apple's servers are all in the US, there are none in Ireland, so the power source is whatever they use in Kentucky.
That should be Bruton, not Burton.
Greenpeace should check their facts. Apple's servers are all in the US, there are none in Ireland, so the power source is whatever they use in Kentucky.
Coal.
Good for Cork. That plant has been there for 4 years before the Mac, 21 years before the iPod, and 27-30 years before the iPhone/iPad. Apple is hardly a fly by nighter in Ireland, and it isn't just for the low corporation tax, since it predates that.
As for that Apple pays 24% effective tax, in total, so most must be declared outside Ireland. Or indeed the UK which as 18% tax.
HMRC can kiss my ass - Apple have no real operation in the UK and you pay corporation tax where you are based, not because you sell to a country. Same with Amazon, the UK authorities are complaining that Amazon owes them corporation tax for sales in the country, but Amazon are not based in the UK.
only Americans can really complain, I think, about corporation tax evasion by Google, Apple or Amazon. Despite it's capitalist credentials, however, I think the US charges too much Corportation tax, the Laffer curve applies. Apple would bring it home if the tax rate where lower than 20%.
What they fail to mention is that 50 of the Ireland jobs are security guards to keep Greenpeace off their property.